Ex-Brazil star Socrates is mulling over an offer from the Cuban authorities to take on the post of national coach.
The Cubans are struggling in the ongoing Gold Cup and are coming off a 5-0 thrashing by Mexico and Socrates is seen as the man who can lift sagging morale.
“Someone connected to (Cuban) diplomatic circles, through a friend, showed an interest in working with me but I have yet to have talks with anyone,” Brazilian media quoted Socrates, a star of Brazil’s stylish but ultimately unsuccessful 1982 World Cup team, as saying.
“We are going to talk and I’ll see what they think. If I can help I will,” added the 54-year-old.
Swansea in talks with Senna
Swansea have opened talks with Spain international Marcos Senna.
The Premier League newcomers are lining up a shock move for the out-of-contract Villarreal mid-fielder, 34, and his agent Ely Coimbra says a deal could be struck.
Coimbra said: “Marcos Senna had a previous conversation by phone with Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers and that made him very proud and honoured with the interest of Swansea to have him in the squad for the Premier League.
“Marcos is very happy with the possibility and of course keen to play Premier League football. Swansea City can be a very attractive option, since Mr Rodgers explained to Marcos his ideas about his team and part of Swansea’s project which pleased him a lot.”
Lukaku not close to Chelsea deal
Teenage Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku says he will be at the club for pre-season training, despite reported interest from Chelsea.
The 18-year-old has already broken into the Belgium national side and is attracting interest from across Europe.
However, Lukaku insists suggestions a deal is imminent are wide of the mark, and says he is only focused on his school exams.
“I read a lot in the paper about me these days,” he said.
“Some journalists try to sell information they don’t always know about. Please know that my current and only focus is passing my exams.
“After that I’ll have some holiday and will start the pre-season with Anderlecht.”
Mali midfiedler Keita on Milan radar
Italian champions Milan are in the market to sign a left-sided midfielder and have identified Barcelona’s Seydo Keita as one of their major targets.
The Rossoneri have already been linked with Axel Witsel, of Standard Liege, but they seem to prefer the option of signing the more-experienced Keita.
The Corriere dello Sport said that if Barcelona sign Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, then Keita would be free to go for around €8m.
The deal is more attractive for Milan as the Mali midfielder owns a French passport and he would not fall foul of the EU limits in Serie A.
Grafite to join striker exodus
Former Bundesliga top-scorer Grafite looks set to become the third star striker to leave the Bundesliga in recent weeks as reports in the German media yesterday linked him to Dubai side Al Ahli.
After Ruud van Nistelrooy quit Hamburg to join Spanish side Malaga at the end of May and Miroslav Klose signed for Italy’s Lazio from Bayern Munich last week, Brazilian Grafite is now also poised to turn his back on Germany.
According to German daily Bild, Grafite is set to sign a three-year contract with the side from the United Arab Emirates worth around three million euros ($4.3m) per year.
Having scored 28 goals in 25 league games, Grafite was the Bundesliga’s top-scorer in the 2008-09 season when Wolfsburg won the German league title.
Rushden expelled from Conference
Rushden & Diamonds were yesterday expelled from the Blue Square Bet Premier at the Conference League’s annual general meeting.
The decision was taken in light of the club’s precarious financial position, which meant they could not guarantee being able to fulfil their fixtures for the 2011/12 season.
Tomorrow, they will face a court hearing after a major creditor issued a winding-up order over unpaid debts.
Rushden, managed by former Tottenham defender Justin Edinburgh, suffered a five-point deduction last season after being found guilty of submitting incorrect financial information.
Jansen staying at Hamburg
Germany midfielder Marcell Jansen’s agent yesterday rubbished rumours his client is set to quit Hamburg for German league rivals Wolfsburg before next season.
The 25-year-old Jansen flew to the United States on Friday along with Manchester City’s Jerome Boateng to work with Germany’s fitness coaches Marc Verstegen and Shad Forsythe, who are based in the US.
But the former Bayern Munich star’s agent insists Jansen, who can play in defence or midfield, will return to Germany as a Hamburg player.
“There is no truth in it, there is no offer,” said Gerd vom Bruch.
“And no one from Hamburg has got in touch with us to say there is a good offer for Marcell.”